New COVID-19 Mobile Testing Site

Dear Friends, 

Many of you have reached out to me about COVID-19 testing. 

Today, the state is opening a new COVID-19 mobile testing site for the Capital Region in partnership with Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Health Partners and The University at Albany. The mobile testing center is located in a parking lot at the State University of New York at Albany campus - 1400 Washington Avenue, Colonial Quad parking lot, accessible from the main UAlbany entry, off Washington Avenue, Albany. The site will prioritize tests for individuals that are among the highest risk population. 

Residents who would like to be tested must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065 for an assessment. NO WALK-INS ARE ALLOWED and all patients must be in a vehicle. Site hours will be Monday - Sunday, 8 am - 6 pm. 

I continue to press for additional testing sites and more testing kits being sent so that every county can meet the need for testing. 

In other COVID-19 news, the Governor has extended his stay-at-home order for all non-essential businesses and keeping all schools closed until April 29. 

State Ed has canceled all Regents exams. They will be announcing more guidance on graduation standards during COVID-19 tomorrow.

I, and my staff, have been working to assist many constituents who are desperately trying to get through to the NYS Department of Labor to file for unemployment. Millions of people have been attempting to file in the past couple of weeks. I have expressed my deep frustration with the Governor's Office about the inability of people, who have lost their jobs and are depending on unemployment to feed their families, to get through to file. 

The state has hired 300 more people to assist the 700 current service staff to handle the avalanche of unemployment applications and Google is going to help improve the state Department of Labor's interface by mid-week to make this process easier and more efficient for people. 

I encourage you to follow the state Department of Health’s Coronavirus website at Coronavirus.health.ny.gov or call the NY Coronavirus hotline at (888) 364-3065 to not only obtain health and safety updates, but to also learn of new policies the state is implementing for the crisis as things are rapidly changing.

My continued thanks to all our essential workers who are caring for the sick, keeping our communities safe and utilities working, working at our grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential businesses, making deliveries, maintaining our infrastructure and government services and doing all the essential work to ensure that we can be safe. 

I will continue to update you as I hear more. 

Stay safe, everyone. Remember, we're in this together!

Regards,

Senator Jim Tedisco